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The Importance Of Equipping The Body Of Christ  featuring

Apostle Dr. Peggy Elliott

“The Importance Of Equipping The Body Of Christ”

                              ~ by Apostle Dr. Peggy Elliott ©  September1st, 2018

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A healthy spirit-filled church is one in which its foundation is prayer and equipping is its cornerstone for growth and replication.   Ephesians 4:7, 11-13 brings clarity as to what offices within the body of Christ are responsible for equipping the body.  “But to each one of us, grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  This is why it says:  “When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.”  …So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for the works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

As listed in this scripture, the five-fold ministry is mandated by God to equip the body of Christ. One aspect of equipping is teaching people how to pray and how to evangelize their city. Believers are to go out into the highways and by-ways and bring people in.  What do we do with men and women once we get them into the church?  They must be discipled and equipped, ensuring the healthy replication of themselves.  The clearest example of replication is found in Acts 2:41.”Then they that gladly received his word (Peter), were baptized; and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”

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This might sound trite, though I do not mean it to be, I believe evangelism, leading someone to accept Jesus Christ as their personal Savior is easy.  I believe that the hardest work begins after salvation, the work of equipping and training.

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INDICATORS OF A POORLY EQUIPPED CHURCH

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A poorly equipped church produces unhealthy fruit and many attitudes.  One example of a poorly equipped church is a church where people are evangelized and then left to themselves to determine, how and where they fit into the body. 

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There are announcements in the bulletin about various groups available for anyone to attend.  The extraverted, newly evangelized individual may feel very comfortable taking it upon themselves to visit a group or two, gaining a better sense of the church, but if they do not feel connected, if they have not had the opportunity to connect with anyone, and certainly if they have not had the opportunity to evaluate their gifts and how they can use them within the church, it is not long before they fall through the cracks and disappear. This will not happen suddenly, because extroverts often are survivors and will find a way to continue going to a new church for a lengthy period.  At some point, if they are not discipled, they will stop attending.

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An introverted person will have a more difficult time connecting after they have been evangelized, if they are not discipled and equipped.  They may venture out and visit a church or two, yet, if no one reaches out to them and helps them connect, you will see less of them sooner than you will of an extrovert. Little or no equipping yields little or no fruit.

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Another example of a poorly equipped church is a church that assigns duties to those not gifted or called to the area where they are assigned to work.  Many things and ministries will be out of order.  Those assigned duties to minister in an area where they are not equipped causes serious internal problems.  Though 1 Peter 4: 11b tells us that we are called to be servants, to use our gifts to serve others, and do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. When individuals are expected to minister in an area without obtaining the skills and knowledge necessary to produce good fruit, God not only does not get the praise, in addition, there is more complaining than serving with a glad heart.

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EQUIPPING PRODUCES A HEALTHY CHURCH

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A primary role of an apostle, a sent one, is to equip and train church leadership and the body of Christ, in the areas of ministry necessary to produce a healthy church. A well-equipped church reproduces itself and three thousand are added daily.  The apostle is listed first in the listing of the five-fold for a reason.  This does not mean that the apostle is more important than the other four offices.  It means that they have the primary role, the primary function to ensure that a church is rooted in Christ, that the leader's skills and gifts are assessed, to ensure they are serving in the ministries that fit their call and gifting.

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An apostle observes, uproots, tears down, builds a church back up and equips as needed. As an apostle, I implement equipping /training on the following topics: 

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  • Building and Maintaining a New Testament Apostolic Church

  • Understanding the Roles and Functions of the Five-Fold Ministry Within the Church

  • The Healthy Church Leader

  • Becoming an Effective Servant Leader

  • Understanding and Activating the Manifestation Gifts of the Holy Spirit

  • Inner Healing and Deliverance Ministry

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How about your church?  Is equipping one of the primary objectives of the body where you serve?

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